Heel covering machine



Sept. 25, 1951 FLA. O'DONNELL 2,569,070

V HEEL COVERING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1:5, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 25, 1951 F. A. O'DONNELL HEEL COVERING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 15, 1951 INVEN TOR.

- 1mm ,4. damn 14 BY I ATTORNEY P 1951 F. A. O'DONNELL 2,569,070

HEEL COVERING MACHINE Filed Jan. 15, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 nun TEZZIIEEZ? M mung V *7 fff. 5 INVHVTOR."

, FAA/VA 4. 0204 41 A L AITORNEY Patented Sept. 25, 1951 HEEL COVERING MACHINE Frank A. ODonnell, Naugatuck, Conn., assignor to United States Rubber Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application J anuary 13, 1951, Serial No. 205,925

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a heel covering machine for pressing the tacky surface of the flexible heel cover onto a heel foundation. The invention relates particularly to the combinatipn of pairs of horizontal and vertical pressure rolls for pressing the cover onto the heel foundation and a pair of spaced plates located between the pairs of rolls for folding the top and bottom edges of the heel cover over the top and bottom marinal edges of the heel foundation before the edges are pressed by the horizontal rolls.

Machines have been made heretofore for applying the heel cover to the sides of the heel foundation, but further manual labor was required to fold the top and bottom edges-of the heel cover over the top and bottom marginal surfaces of the heel foundation. The edge foldin operation was performed manually in its entirety, or was performed as an independent operation partly by hand and with the assistance of a. power driven apparatus.

In accordance with the present invention the entire operation of pressing the heel cover to the heel foundation is performed by the machine described herein as a continuous, integrated operation with a single handling of the heel cover and foundation. A great saving of labor and time is thus made by the use of the machine. This invention, its objects and advantages will be further described in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the heel covering machine embodying this invention, in which parts are shown in section;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top and side isometric view of the assembled heel cover and heel foundation, which has been prepared to be placed in and processed by the machine;

Fig. 3 is a top and side isometric view of a covered heel which has been processed by the machine; I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the left side of the machine as viewedin reference to Fig. 1, and showing the assembled heel cover and foundation in the process of passing through the machine; and

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the machine in the process of applying the heel cover to the heel foundation as shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the heel covering machine embodying this invention comprises a pair of horizontal rolls l0 and II, which are positioned behind a pair of vertical rolls [2, and a pair of horizontally arranged heel cover edge folding plates l3 and I4 positioned 2 between the pair of horizontal rolls l0 and II and the pair of vertical rolls l2. The cylindrical surfaces of the pairs of horizontal rolls I0 and II and of the vertical rolls l2 are made of resilient yieldable material, such as rubber, and such surfaces are adapted to press the adhesively coated surface [5 of the heel cover l6 onto the heel foundation H, which has been prepared as an assembly 18, as shown in Fig. 2. A pair of rollers I9 are located between the vertical rolls l2 for supporting the heel foundation I! as it and the cover I6 thereon passes between the rolls. The heel assembly l8 passes through the machine from the front to the rear and the cover i6 is first pressed to the back 20 and sides 2| of the heel foundation I! by the vertical rolls [2. The top and bottom edges 22 of the cover 16 are folded over the top and bottom surfaces of the foundation l1, and such folded over edges are pressed down by the horizontal rolls l0 and II.

In the preparation of the assembly of the heel cover I6 and the foundation IT, as shown in Fig. 2, the foundation I l is preferably coated with latex and dried. One surface l5 of the cover I6 is coated with a suitable adhesive, such as latex, and the center of the cover is applied to the back 20 of the heel foundation. The heel cover 16 is bent around the sides 2| of the heel foundation ll until the ends 23 extend over the forward end 24 of the foundation [1.

As shown in Fig. 2, the upwardly facing surface of the heel foundation I1 is the outside tread surface, or the surface to which the tread member is attached. Such surface is divided into a flat portion 25 forming the heel proper, and a tapered curved section 26, which forms the shank portion of the wedge shaped heel. The two sections are separated by the breast 21 of the heel.

In processing the heel assembly Hi, the operator grasps the forward end 24, and pushes its rear end 20 against one of the vertical pressing rolls [2 and then between the rolls while the surface of the heel foundation opposite the heel tread surface 24 is supported on the supporting rollers l9. The rolls P2 are preferably made of sponge rubber, and their adjacent peripheries being spaced apart less than the width of the heel foundation, the cylindrical surfaces are forced inwardly and presses the sides of the heel cover 16 against the sides 2| of the heel foundation, and also bends the top and bottom edges 22 of the cover over the top and bottom surfaces of the heel foundation l1. As the operator continues to force the heel assembly I8 between the vertical rolls l2, the rear end 20 of the assembly aseaovo passes between the cover edge folding plates l3 and M, and the cover edges 22 are folded over and in contact with the top and bottom surfaces of the heel foundation l1. When the rear end 29 of the heel assembly engages the peripheries of the horizontal rolls i and H, the machine is set in motion by the operator and the bottom roll I4 is driven by the motor 28 through a one revolution clutch 29 in the direction indicated by the arrow A. The heel assembly I8 is forced between the horizontal rolls l0 and II by the forward motion of the vertical rolls l2. The pressure exerted by the horizontal rolls I0 and H on the folded over edges 22 of the heel cover presses the edges down firmly against the adhesively coated heel foundation as the assembly is drawn between the rolls by the driven roll The heel I8 is discharged from the back end of the machine in its finished condition as shown in Fig. 3, in which the sides and the top and bottom edges 22 of the heel cover I6 have been tightly pressed against the heel foundation I! and adhered thereto. Preferably, the surface of the horizontal rolls l0 and H are considerably less yieldable than the surface of the vertical rolls |2. The horizontal rolls are preferably made of an outer shell 30 of soft, solid elastic rubber, which is backer by an inner core 3| of softer solid rubber, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

Thr horizontal upper roll I0 is bounded to a shaft 32 which is rotatably mounted in blocks 33 (Fig. 4) at each end of the shaft. Each block 33 is slidable vertically in the frame 34,, and the upper roll I0 is resiliently pressed towards the lower roll II by springs 35, which are compressed between the blocks 33 and the ends of screws 36 threaded into bores 36' in the frame 34. The bores 36' provide sockets for the springs, and the screws 36 may be turned to adjust the tension on the springs 35.

It will be noted that the rear end 20 of the heel foundation I1 is thicker than the forward end 24, and that the thick rear end 29 enters between the horizontal rolls in advance of the thinner end. It is therefore necessary to separate the rolls l0 and H a suflicient distance to permit the entry of the thick end 20 of the heel foundation into the nip between the rolls, and thereafter permit the roll l0 to approach the roll H so that the thinner shank portion 26 of the wedge shaped heel will be pressed as it is drawn between the rolls. For such purpose the spacing of the rolls l0 and H is controlled by two like cams 31, one of which is keyed to each end of the shaft 38 of the lower roll The cams 31 are provided with outer peripheral cam surfaces 39 which operate on rollers 40, one of which is keyed to each end of the shaft 32 of the upper roll l0. As shown in Fig. 4, the cams 31 are driven in the direction of the arrow A. The rollers 40 are on the high points 4| of the cam surfaces 39, and the roller It! has been raised to its highest point for the admission of the thick end 20 of the heel foundation into the nip between the horizontal rolls. When the high points 4| on the surfaces of the cams 39 are in contact with the rolls 40, the space between the rolls l0 and I is slightly less than the thickness of the thick- '4 springs 35 are transmitted through the roll I0 to the folded over top and bottom edges 22 of the heel cover l6. Before the breast 2'! of the heel foundation passes between the nip of the rolls l0 and II, the abruptly depressed portions 42 of the cam surfaces 39 pass underneath the rollers 40, and the full pressure of the springs 35 is permitted to be exerted on the curved tapered est portion of the heel foundation H, but the portion 26 of the heel foundation extending beyond the breast 21. After the forward end 24 of the heel foundation passes between the nip of the rolls l0 and H, the upper roll I0 is supported against the downward pressure of the compression springs 35 by the lower portions 43 of the cam surfaces 39 which resume contact with the rollers 40. The cam surfaces 39 continue to rotate in the direction of the arrow A until their high points 4| again arrive under the rollers 40 and raise the horizontal roll to its highest point, as shown in Fig. 4. At this point the one revolution clutch 29 disengages the driven shaft 38 of the lower roll II from the motor 28.

The cam 31 is also provided with the side cam surfaces 44 for controlling the movement of the vertical rolls |2 towards each other, and also towards and away from the horizontal rolls l0 and H. For that purpose the vertical rolls 2 are mounted on vertical shafts 45, which are rotatably mounted in like yokes 46, one of which is mounted on each side of the machine. As shown in Fig. 5, each yoke 46 is formed on one branch 41 of an L-shaped arm 48 having its other branch 49 pivotally mounted on a vertically extending stud screw 50, which is threaded into the frame 34 of the machine. A roller 5| is rotatably mounted on the branch 49 of the arm 48, and such roller is spring pressed against the side cam surface 44 by a leaf spring 52, having one and secured to the frame 34 by a screw 53, and having its other end bearing against the branch 49 r the arm 48 so as to hold it in contact with tl cam surface 44.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the rollers 5| are at the low point of the side cam surfaces 44, and they will immediately ride up the inclines 54 leading to the high portions 55 of the cam surfaces 44 as the cams 31 begin to rotate in the direction of the arrow A. As the rollers 5| ride upon the high portions 55 of the side cam surfaces, they are forced axially outwardly, and the branches 49 of the arms 48 are pivoted about the screws 50. The pivotal movements of the arms 48 force the vertical rollers |2 towards each other and also towards the nip of the rolls l0 and II It will be noted that the foregoing movements of the rolls |2 occur immediately after the breast 21 of the heel foundation I has passed between the nip of the rolls l2. Two advantageous results are thereby accomplished. First, the approach of the rolls l2 in closer proximity at this point effectively folds the top and bottom edges 22 of the heel cover I6 over the top and bottom surfaces of the tapered thinner portion of the heel foundation H, which is not contacted by the folding plates I3 and I4. Second, the movement of the vertical rolls |2 are rotated towards the nip of the rolls Ill and II and force the assembled heel assembly l8 between the nip of the horizontal rolls and thereby causes the assembly to be drawn by the driven roll into and through the nip.

The upper and lower cover edge folding plates l3 and I4 have forwardly extendin concavely curved edges 55' as shown in Fig. 5, so that they will more effectively fold the edges 22 of the heel cover over the top and bottom surfaces of the heel foundation IT. The plates l3 and I4 are also. adjustable vertically. The lower plate I4 is secured to two vertically adjustable brackets 56, one of which is placed on each side of the machine as shown in Fig. 1, and each of the brackets are adjustably secured to the frame 34 of the machine by screws 51 which extend through slots 58 in the brackets 56, and are threaded into the frame 34, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The plate i4 is secured to the brackets 56 at each end by screws 59, one of which is shown in'Fig. 4. The lower plate [4 is made adjustable'by clamping it at points alon the slots 58 by the screws 51 to take care of any variation in the diameter of the roll i I, and it is normally adjusted so that the top of the plate will be substantially level with the top surface of the bottom roll II and the top surface of the supporting rolls IS.

The upper cover edge folding plate 13 is adjustable to accommodate heels of different thicknesses, and it is carried by two vertically movable brackets 80, one of which is placed on each side of the machine. The brackets 60 are vertically adjusted on the frame 34 by thumb screws 6|, which are threaded into the frame 34. The construction for holding one of the brackets 68 on the frame 34 is shown in Fig. 4. It comprises a screw 62 which passes through the slot 63 in the bracket 68 and is threaded into the frame 34. The securing screw 62 is adapted to clamp the bracket 68 to the frame 34, but when it is loosened the thumb screw 61 is adapted to move the plate i4 up and down by a swivel connection 64 between a shoulder 65 on the bracket 68 and a head 66 on the lower end of the thumb screw 6 l.

A brake 6'! for the driven shaft 38 of the lower roll 14 is provided to prevent the earns 31 from overrunning when it is disengaged from the motor 28 by the one revolution clutch 29. The brake 51 comprises a band 68 having a lining 69 which operates upon a drum Ill secured to the shaft 38. The band is adjustable on the drum 70 by a bolt H which extends through ears 12 on the band 68.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, the one revolution clutch 29 is a conventional clutch in which the drive shaft 13 extending from the motor 28 to the clutch 29 runs continuously, and the clutch is provided with a cam 14, which disengages the shaft 13 from the shaft 38 when the end of the arm 15 of an L-shaped lever 16 engages the notch W in the surface of the cam 14, as shown particularly in Fig. 4. The arm 15 of the lever 76 is pressed towards the surface of the cam 14 by a spring 18, which isattached at one end to the lever 18, and at the other end to the frame 34 of the machine. The arm 19 of the lever 16 is pivoted on a pin 88 in a bracket 8| which is attached to the fram 34. The arm 19 is manually operated in opposition to the spring 18 by a cord 82, which is adapted to pull the upper end of the arm 15 out of the notch 14 when it is desired to have the clutch 29 engage the driven shaft 38 with the shaft 13 driven by the motor 28. The cord 82 is released immediately after the arm 15 is disengaged from the notch TI, and the spring I8 immediately pulls the end of the arm 15 against the surface of the cam 14. When the cam surface has made one complete revolution it is stopped by'the engagement of the end of the arm 15 with the notch TI. The clutch 29 immediately disengages the shaft 33 from the driving shaft 13, and the shaft 38 and the cam 31 affixed thereto is immediately stopped by the braking action of the brake 61 in substantiall the same position as shown in the drawings, having particular reference to Fig. 4. In that position a covered heel l8, as in Fig. 3, has just been discharged and the machine is ready to receive the assembly i8 of Fig. 2. The manually operated cord 82 extends to the front of the machin so that it may be conveniently operated by the operator with either his foot or hand depending upon the mechanism desired. As shown the cord 82 passes over a pulley 83 (Fig. 4) mounted on the frame 34 and extends to the front ofthe machine over a pulley 83 (Fig. 1) and downwardly to the pivoted pedal 85 to which the cord 82 is secured. The pedal '85 is pivoted on a bracket 86 attached to the frame 34 and may be arranged at a height suitable for operation by the hand or the foot of the operator.

In the operation of the heel covering machine, the operator applies the adhesively coated side i'5 of the heel cover to the latex coated heel foundation I! and inserts the assembled heel cover and heel foundation l 8 between the vertical rollers l2 with the heel foundation I! resting upon the supporting rollers 21. The assembly i8 is pushed forwardly between the rolls by the operator to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The operator then puts the machine in motion by pressing the pedal 85 which causes the one revolution clutch 29 to connect the shaft 3-8 of the lower horizontal roll II with the motor 28. The cams 31 on each end of the shaft 38 are driven in the direction of the arrow A as shown in Fig. 4, and the raised portions 55 of the side cam surfaces 44 immediately pushes the rollers 5! to the side and forces the vertical rolls l2 toward each other and also inwardly towards the nip of the horizontal rolls in and II. The heel assembly I8 is pushed between the nip of the rolls in and II and presses the adhesively coated folded over edges 22 of the heel cover to the latex coated heel foundation IT, as the assembly is drawn between the horizontal rolls I 8 and l I. At the end of one complete revolution of the shaft 38, the roll II and the cam 31 attached thereto, the clutch 29 automatically disengages the shaft 38 from the motor driven shaft 13, and the machine is stopped in the position shown in the drawings for the reception of the next heel assembly i8 of Fig. 2. During the revolution, the covered heel i8, shown in Fig. 3 is discharged from the rear end of the machine.

While the preferred form of this invention has been shown and described herein somewhat in detail, it is to be understood that changes may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention, and it is intended to claim such changes which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire'to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A heel covering machine comprising a pair of horizontal rolls having resiliently yieldable surfaces, means for resiliently forcing one of said rolls towards the other for pressing the edges of the heel cover to the top and bottom surfaces of the heel foundation to be covered as it passes between said rolls, a pair of vertical rolls having resiliently yieldable surfaces positioned in front of said horizontal rolls and separated by a distance less than the width of the heel foundation for pressing the heel cover to the side edges of the foundation, means positioned between said pairs of horizontal and vertical rolls for folding the edges of said'cover over the top and bottom surfaces of said heel foundation before such edges of said cover are passed between said horizontal rolls, and means for driving at least one of said horizontal rolls for drawing said heel and cover between said rolls.

2. A heel covering machine comprising a pair of horizontal rolls having yieldable peripheral surfaces, means for resiliently forcing one of said rolls towards the other for pressing the edges of the heel cover to the top and bottom surfaces of the heel foundation to be covered, means for driving at least one of said rolls to draw said heel foundation between said pair of rolls, means geared to said driven roll for intermittently forcing said rolls apart against the resistance of said resilient means to permit the entry of said heel between said rolls, a pair of vertical rolls having yieldable peripheral surfaces positioned in front of said horizontal rolls and adapted to press the heel cover to the side edges of said heel foundation.

3. A heel covering machine comprising a pair of horizontal rolls having yieldable peripheral surfaces for pressing the edges of the heel cover to the top and bottom surfaces of the heel foundation to be covered, a pair of vertical rolls positioned in front of said horizontal rolls and having yieldable, resilient, peripheral surfaces adapted to press the heel covering to the sides of the heel foundation, resilient means for forcing said horizontal rolls together, cam actuated,

means for separating said horizontal rolls to permit the width dimension of the heel to enter therebetween, a second cam actuated means for forcing said vertical rolls towards each other and simultaneously towards said horizontal rolls to initially force the heel foundation therebetween, and means for driving at least one of said horizontal rolls and said first and second cam actuated means.

4. A heel covering machine comprising a pair oi horizontal rolls having yieldable peripheral surfaces for pressing the edges of the heel cover to the-top and bottom surfaces of the heel foundation to be covered, a pair of vertical rolls positioned in front of said horizontal rolls and having yieldable, resilient, peripheral surfaces adapted to press the heel covering to the sides of the heel, a support for the heel positioned between said vertical rolls, a pair of heel cover edge folding plates positioned between said horizontal and said vertical rolls, one of said plates being positioned substantially on the level of the supporting surface of said heel support, and the other of said plates being vertically adjustable and placed above the other plate, resilient means for forcing said horizontal rolls together, a cam for actuating one of said horizontal rolls to space it from the other the distance required to permit the heel to enter therebetween, a cam for actuating said vertical rolls towards each other and simultaneously towards said horizontal rollsto initially force the heel therebetween, and means for driving at least one of said horizontal rolls and both said cams.

' FRANK A. O'DONNE'LL.

No references cited. 

